Apparently if you search “Pope dancing” in Google, “Pope” is so close to “pole” you get a bunch of images of pole dancers. ::sigh:: Anyway, here’s a pic of JPII watching some breakdancing.
You are probably wondering why I was searching for an image of the pope dancing. Well, today we will be praying for women in the single life. That automatically makes me think of Beyonce’s song, “All the Single Ladies.” However, that’s not entirely appropriate because it implies that anyone living the single life is just waiting to join another vocation. There are plenty of people out in the world for whom the single life is their vocation.
As a Church, we are just beginning to understand the vocation to the unconsecrated single life. It is noted that John Paul II doesn’t refer to that vocation in his writings, but many single theologians credit him with laying the foundation on which a defense for their vocation can be built.
“God created man in His own image and likeness: calling him to existence through love, He called him at the same time for love…. Love is therefore the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being” – Familiaris Consortio 11
Love is the fundamental vocation of all people. We are all called to love as Christ loved. No one is exempt. This vocation to love is both the easiest and the hardest thing to do. It’s easy because it can be done anywhere by anyone. Every day we are faced with many opportunities to love. It is hard because all love requires risk. It takes courage to love as Jesus loved.
The Lord tells the Prophet Jeremiah that his vocation was part of God’s eternal plan even before he was born… These words remind us that each person has a place in God’s plan and that each of us should carefully listen to God’s voice in prayer in order to discover the special calling we have received in Christ.- Homily, September 2, 1990
To read more about the foundation that John Paul II laid, visit here.
Today we pray for all women living the single life. We pray that they are open to God’s direction. Let God guide them in whichever way He wants them to live out their vocation. We also pray for the Church, that we develop more of an understanding of the unconsecrated single life. We pray that the single women do not succumb to the pressures of this world either by going into a marriage they are not called to or living a promiscuous lifestyle because that’s what our society says single women should do. Let them receive God’s love and thereby be able to share that love with others.
Let us conclude by praying the Litany to John Paul II:
Kyrie eleison,
Christe eleison,
Kyrie eleison,
Christ hear us, Christ graciously hear us
God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us
Blessed, John Paul II, pray for us
Perfect disciple of Christ, pray for us
Generously gifted with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, pray for us
Great apostle of Divine Mercy, pray for us
Faithful Son of Mary, pray for us
Totally dedicated to the Mother of God, pray for us
Persevering preacher of the Gospel, pray for us
Pilgrim Pope, pray for us
Pope of the Millennium, pray for us
Model of industry, pray for us
Model of priests, pray for us
Drawing strength from the Eucharist, pray for us
Untiring man of prayer, pray for us
Lover of the rosary, pray for us
Strength of those doubting their faith, pray for us
Desiring to unite all those who believe in Christ, pray for us
Converter of sinners, pray for us
Defender of the dignity of every person, pray for us
Defender of life from conception to natural death, pray for us
Praying for the gift of parenthood for the infertile, pray for us
Friend of children, pray for us
Leader of youth, pray for us
Intercessor of families, pray for us
Comforter of the suffering, pray for us
Manly bearing his pain, pray for us
Sower of divine joy, pray for us
Great intercessor for peace, pray for us
Pride of the Polish nation, pray for us
Brilliance of the Holy Church, pray for us
That we may be faithful imitators of Christ, pray for us
That we may be strong with the power of the Holy Spirit, pray for us
That we may have trust in the Mother of God, pray for us
That we may grow in our faith, hope, and charity, pray for us
That we may live in peace in our families, pray for us
That we may know how to forgive, pray for us
That we may know how to bear suffering, pray for us
That we may not succumb to the culture of death, pray for us
That we may not be afraid and courageously fight off various temptations, pray for us
That he would intercede for us the grace of a happy death, pray for us
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us
Pray for us, Venerable Blessed John Paul II
That we may become worthy of the promises of Christ
We ask all of this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
The True Dignity of Women 